Flexible spindle-coupling



`UNITED STATES PATENT orties.

FLEXIBLE SPINDLE-COUPLING.

`Siwviatiwl f Letters Patent. Patented Mar. 29, `1921.

Application filed November 6, 1919. Serial No. 336,002.

ft 'o di fic/lione. fmcj/ concern y lie it known that l, LAURENCE l?. SHARP- ifss, a. citizen of the United States, residing at lll/lest Chester, in the county of Chester and State of l)e1f1nsylvania, have invented a Flexible Spindle-Coupling, of which the following is aspecilication.

This invention relates primarily to the spindle couplings of centrifugal machines haring bowls suspended and driven there througl'i, but it will be understood that it is intended for use wherever its tunctions are applicable. i

ln the operations of centrifugal machines l! aving bowls.suspended by spindles through which they are driven at high speeds it is dillicult to secure the desired alinement of the center of gravity `of the bowl with the axis of the spindle, due to various causes such nnb lanced bowls and parte that are not true. l eretofore this difficulty and its attendant evils have been alleviated by the.

use of comparatively long' and liinber spindles for suspending and revolving the bowls. But an injury, such as the bending of a spindle or the deformation of a cou.- pling face, affects the operation and may cause the bowl and spindle to vibrate and run hard. i

lt is a primary object of this invention to eliminate the foregoing defects of the constructions heretofore known and to pro vide means of simple, sturdy and readily manipulated character, whereby the automatic alinement `of the center of gravity of the bowl with the axis of the spindle is effected. Anotwithstanding inaccuracies of workmanship, deformation of the mecha nism and other causes.

The present improvements effect the de-V siderata by permitting the use of a comparatively short, stiff spindle with a coupling which requires no great accuracy of construction, is easier to couple and is less liable to get out of order, while providing the desired means for permitting' the bowl to take its natural course without straining the mechanism.

The characteristic features of the invention will be fully understood from the following description and the accompanying drawings in illustration thereof.

ln the drawings, Figure l is a broken vertical sectional View of a construction embodying my improvements; F 2 is a side elevation of the coupling, and Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken Fig. 1.

ln the form of the invention illustrated, the bowl l is provided with a neck in the forni of a stub-spindle 2 having the diametrically disposed studs 3 thereon;

A. spindle 4 has at` its top a conical bearing 5 which :rests on the balls 6 carried by cup 7, providing a thrust bearing. A radial bearing may be provided for the spindle if desired. The bottom of the spindle has thereon a disk l0 whose bottom face engages the top face of the stub-spindle 2, a coil spring 1]. being supported by the disk on the spindle.

A coupling member l2, in the form of `a housing, is mounted on the spindle 4, so as to move freely with the relation thereto, and is provided with the diametrically disposed angular slots 13 for engaging it with the studs 3 in a bayonet joint; the member f1.2 inclosing the engaging parts of the members 2 and l0 as well. as the member 11, on which it rests.

y A worm 14; on the spindle l is engaged by a spiral gear 15, whereby the spindle is revolved and caused to drive the bowl through the coupling due to the friction caused by the spring 1l. i

The bowl and spindle are usually not in exact alinemcnt when at rest liecause of iin-- perfections of construction or untrue rela tions as if a` slight bur or dirt between the surfaces of the `parts 2 and l0 throw them into angular relation. But in the operation of the bowl when it has attained Asutlicisnt speed, the force exerted thereby will eifect the desired righting action so that its center of gravity axis is brought into alinement with the axis of the driving spindle, the force exerted by the bowl having compressed the spring so as to permit this automatic aline ment and the elimination of the otherwise objectionable effects due to operating.;r the bowl with its axis in angular relation to the axis of the spindle.

From the above, it will be apparent that the spring ll normally holes the driving surface at the lower face of the disk l0 in engagement with the face of the bowl, and therefore, the spring performs a double function of suspending the bowl, and holding the driving faces in contact. If either of these on the line `3*-39 of driving faces become battered or bui-red, or

any foreign substance lodges between the two, which throws the center of gravity of Y the' bowl out of alinement with the axis of said surfaces in Contact whereby said bowl is permitted to aline its center of" gravity with the axis of the spindle.

2. The combination of a suspended spindle, a bowl, and flexible coupling means comprising a spring supported by said spindle for suspending and revolvingsaid bowl.

3,. Th'e'combination of a suspended spindle, a bowl and coupling means supported by said spindle l'or suspending and revolving said bowl, said means comprising a flexible member supported by seid spindle, a coupling member supported by said iexible member and means 'for detachably connecting said coupling member with said bowl.

Il.' The combination of a suspended spindleprovided Vwith a bearing member having a face, a bowl provided with a stub-spindle having a face engaging the liace of said bearing member, a spring supported by said bearing member, and a coupling member supported by said spring and connected with said stub-spindle.

5. The combination of a suspended spindle provided with aY bearing member, a. bowl provided with a stub-spindle having studs thereon, a spring supported by said bearing member, and a coupling member supported by said spring' and having angular slots adapted forl engaging said studs.

6. The combination lof a spindle having a driving surface at its lower end, a bowl having a, surface at its upper end adapted A to engage said driving surface whereby the bowl is driven from said spindle, a spring, and means associated therewith whereby said spring suspends said bowl and normally torres said surfaces into contact, said spring yielding to permit the bowl to aline its center of gravity with the axis ol the spindle.

7. rlhe combination of a spindle having a disk at its lower end formed with a horizontal lower surface, a bowl having a horizontal surface at its upper end adapted to engage the horizontal surface on said disk whereby the spindle drives said bowl, a spring, and means associated with said spring whereby said bowl is suspended and the suri'ai e thereon held in driving Contact with the sur face oi the disk, said spring yielding to permit the bowl to aline its center ol gravity with the axis of said spindle.

.8. rlhe combination of a spindle having an enlargement at its lower end forminga shoulder at its upper face and a driving surface at its lower face, the bowl having a surface conforming to and adapted te engage trie driving surface of' the enlarged und of the spindle, a spring resting on the shoulder of said spindle, a cap encircling` the spindle and forming an abutment tor said spring, and means for connecting the cap lo the bowl, said spring being oit sullicient tension to suspend the bowl and hold the surface of the bowl in contact with the drivin;r surface of the spindle and to yield to permit the bowl to aline its center of gravity with the axis of the spindle.

Signed at lest Chester, in the county el' Chester and State of Pennsy vania. this 2Enl day or November 1919.

LAURENCE P. SHARPLES. 

